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Press Release
Shonen Jump Magazine to Be Distributed in U.S. |
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Press Release
Shonen Jump Magazine to Be Distributed in U.S. |
NEW YORK -- October 1, 2002 -- The U.S. edition of SHONEN JUMP will launch its Issue #1 with an "ultra rare" Yu-Gi-Oh! card as a reward for early subscribers, it was announced today. Konami and Upper Deck, worldwide and U.S. producers of the enormously popular Yu-Gi-Oh! card series respectively, have agreed to provide a specially produced card that will be available in copies of U.S. SHONEN JUMP #1.
Company executives said that, beyond its rarity, the card will be tournament-legal for Yu-Gi-Oh! game competition. The exact design, illustration, and character to be featured for the Yu-Gi-Oh! card will be revealed closer to the magazine's launch date in November as part of the SHONEN JUMP U.S. introduction. "The exclusive, collectible card will be produced using a special technology that gives it the desirability and status of the "ultra rare" cards prized by fans, collectors, and game players," said Mr. Rick Bauer, Vice President Sales and Marketing for Viz Communications, publisher of U.S. SHONEN JUMP. Mr. Bauer says that an introductory subscription rate of $19.95 for 12 issues is being offered to charter subscribers. Readers may access www.shonenjump.com to subscribe.
Yu-Gi-Oh! is the story of Yugi, a young boy whose grandfather manages a gaming shop and introduces him to an ancient Egyptian card fighting game called "Duel Monsters". The game pits different mystical creatures against one another in fierce Duels on a shifting battlefield filled with traps and magical pitfalls. Yu-Gi-Oh! cards depict an array of mystical characters that are part of the story.
Yu-Gi-Oh! - already widely popular in Japan, a TV hit in the U.S., and the #1 rated show on the Kids' WB network - will be one of the ongoing features in the forthcoming U.S. SHONEN JUMP magazine, a manga anthology series containing multiple stories.
Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are currently a world-wide rage among young fans of the story and its television series.
Patterned after Shueisha's WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP, which has a circulation in Japan of some 3.4 million, the U.S. SHONEN JUMP will have over 250 pages each issue and be published monthly. It will target the growing segment of boys, teens, and young adults who identify with the "anime lifestyle" in America. The magazine will contain manga's most popular titles including several that are already well known as anime in the U.S. market. In addition to "YU-GI-OH!" stories will include: "DRAGON BALL Z" "YUYU HAKUSHO," "NARUTO," "SHAMAN KING," "ONE PIECE," and "SANDLAND."
In addition to subscriptions, U.S. SHONEN JUMP will be available through, single-copy sales at retail, in bookstores, on newsstands, and in specialty stores throughout the country. The single-copy cover price will be $4.95. The charter subscription rate of $19.95 for 12 issues is being offered for a limited time to early subscribers. Readers may access www.shonenjump.com to subscribe.
Viz Communications, Inc. is the leading U.S. publisher of Japanese comics and animation (manga and anime) for English-speaking audiences, serving a growing market of dedicated fans of all ages. Founded in 1986, Viz publishes over 20 titles every month including Dragon Ball Z, Ranma ½, Gundam, and Pokemon. Viz also offers an integrated product line of consumer entertainment that includes magazines, comics, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, merchandise, and audio soundtracks. Based in San Francisco, Viz is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shogakukan, one of Japan's three largest publishers. With some of the most innovative products in the industry, Viz has expanded its offerings to its loyal fans through Web sites such as www.animerica-mag.com, www.j-pop.com, www.vizkids.com, and its corporate site, www.viz.com.
SHUEISHA Inc. was created in Japan in 1925 as a division of the publishing company SHOGAKUKAN devoted to entertainment magazines. In 1926, SHUEISHA separated from SHOGAKUKAN to become an independent company, and in 1949, the publishing company SHUEISHA Inc was established. Since then, SHUEISHA has continued to publish popular magazines one after the other and has become a leading national publisher. "WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP" is the best-known manga magazine for boys in Japan. SHUEISHA publishes 15 other manga magazines in addition to "WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP," and SHUEISHA's manga have captured the hearts of Japan's young. "WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP" in particular is popular not only in Japan, but also overseas. Many of SHUEISHA's manga magazines enjoy widespread readership on other continents, not limited to Asia and Europe. SHUEISHA also publishes a variety of women's fashion magazines for the teenage to adult market. SHUEISHA's publications are not limited to magazines and include trade books such as bestseller novels, dictionaries, art books and children's books, making SHUEISHA one of the most successful Japanese publishers.
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